INDUSTRY NEWS
Medical technology is one of Europe’s most dynamic sectors, but too little is known about how innovation in this field affects the economy. To fill this gap, the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research has been formed. It was formally launched at the European Health Forum, which was held in Gastein,Austria, on 3–6 October.
The body’s goal is to provide European policymakers with evidence of the social and economic value of medical technology and medical devices in particular. Research suggests a correlation between medical technology innovation and economic growth, according to the institute. Its job is to collect facts and statistics to back up this assertion.
The institute builds upon a close collaboration between Università Bocconi in Milan, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Technische Universität Berlin. It plans to publish its first report in early 2008. The body will be funded for a three-year period by Eucomed (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium), a European medical-technology industry association.
For more information, contact the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research, 214d Chaussée de Wavre, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; phone: +32 2 626 9575; e-mail: contact@together4healthinnovation.eu; Internet: www.together4healthinnovation.eu.
